Leviticus 27:28, 29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with
the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the
extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The
anathema or herem was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God
(Leviticus 27:21, 28); and “none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall
surely be put to death” (27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of
devoted to destruction (Numbers 21:2, 3; Joshua 6:17); and hence
generally it meant a thing accursed. In Deuteronomy 7:26 an idol is called a
herem = anathema, a thing accursed.
In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases
an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions
are fulfilled (Acts 23:12, 14, 21). “To call Jesus accursed” [anathema] (1
Corinthians 12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one
preached another gospel, the apostle says, “let him be accursed” (Galatians
1:8, 9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed.
In Romans 9:3, the expression “accursed” (anathema) from Christ, i.e.,
excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much
difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing.
It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his
desire for the salvation of his people.
The anathema in 1 Corinthians 16:22 denotes simply that they who love
not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy
beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation;
they are exposed to the just sentence of “everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord.”